Extensions Quick Reference

Extensions files (*.xem) provide means for customizing and extending PowerDesigner metaclasses, parameters and generation. You can use extensions to define additional properties for existing object types or entirely new kinds of objects, to modify the PowerDesigner interface (reorganizing and adding property sheet tabs, Toolbox tools and menu items), and to define additional generation targets and options.

Creating Extensions from a Property Sheet

To create an extended attribute directly from an object property sheet, click the menu button, and select New Attribute.
To create a new collection directly from an object property sheet, click the menu button, and select New List of Associated Objects.

Working with Extension Files

To attach an existing extension file to a model, select Model > Extensions, and click the Import tool.
To create a new extension file, select Model > Extensions, click the Add a Row tool, enter a name for the file, and then click the Properties tool.

Types of Extension

You can extend the metamodel in the following ways:

Add or sub-classify new kinds of objects:
- Metaclasses – drawn from the metamodel as a basis for extension.
- Stereotypes [for metaclasses and stereotypes only] – to sub-classify objects.
- Criteria – to evaluate conditions to sub-classify objects.
- Extended objects, sub-objects, and links – to create new kinds of objects.
Provide new ways of viewing connections between objects:
- Dependency matrices – to show connections between two types of objects.
- Extended collections and compositions – to enable manual linking between objects.
- Calculated collections – to automate linking between objects.
Add new properties to objects and display them:
- Extended attributes – to provide extra metadata.
- Forms – to display custom property tabs or dialog boxes.
- Custom symbols – to help you visually distinguish objects.
Add constraints and validation rules to objects:
- Custom checks – to provide data testing.
- Event handlers – to invoke methods when triggered by an event.
Execute commands on objects:
- Methods – to be invoked by other profile extensions such as menus and form buttons (written in VBScript).
- Menus [for metaclasses and stereotypes only] – to customize PowerDesigner menus.
Generate objects in new ways:
- Templates and generated files – to customize generation.
- Transformations and Transformation profiles – to automate changes to objects at generation or on demand.

Documentation

For detailed documentation, see Customizing and Extending PowerDesigner > Extension Files.